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Khwaja Baseer Ahmad

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KABUL/AIBAK (Pajhwok): Farmers’ Day was observed on Sunday with exhibitions and concerts in Kabul, Samangan, Herat and Paktika provinces.
Hamidullah Wardak, an organiser, said exhibitions would continue for three days in the Badam Bagh locality... read more

KABUL (Pajhwok): Two civilians were killed and two others, including a woman, wounded in a bomb blast in the heavily-fortified central capital Kabul on Tuesday morning, an official said.
Police spokesman Hashmatullah Stanikzai told Pajhwok Afghan... read more

KABUL, BAGHLAN (Pajhwok): An abducted child was recovered in Kabul and a municipality official arrested on corruption charges in Pul-i-Khumri, the capital of northern Baghlan province, officials said Wednesday.Hashmatullah Stanikzai, the Kabul... read more

KABUL (PAN): Police on Monday detained a suspect with weapons and ammunitions in the Sarobi district of central Kabul province, an official said.The arms included 48 various pistols, six Kalashnikov assault rifles, some ammunitions and bullets,... read more

KABUL (PAN): Scotching speculation, presidential contender Gul Agha Sherzai said on Wednesday he would not withdraw from the race in favour of any aspirant.Addressing a news conference in Kabul, the former Nangarhar governor said such rumours were... read more

KABUL (PAN): At least 10 people were killed and several others wounded when powerful explosion rocked the Polytechnic area of the central capital Kabul on Saturday afternoon, officials said, fearing heavy casualties.The incident took place at 3.15pm... read more

KABUL (PAN): Speakers on Thursday called for Muslims around the globe to draw inspiration from the supreme sacrifice that Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) rendered in Karbala to uphold the truth and resist tyranny.Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet... read more

KABUL (PAN): Afghanistan National Journalists Union (ANJU) members from across the country on Monday arrived in Kabul to attend the union’s first-ever national convention.ANJU Chief Executive Fahim Dashti said the assembly was aimed at assessing the... read more

KABUL (PAN): A police commander survived a bomb attack in the central capital Kabul, an official said on Saturday.The blast took place on Friday night when a bomb attached to the commander’s vehicle exploded in the Shah Shahid area of 8th police... read more

KABUL (PAN): Prices of gas, sugar and Arabian gold fell but that of the Iranian variety gold increased during the outgoing week in Kabul, market sources said on Thursday.The rate of one gram of Arabian gold slipped by 50afs from 2,200afs to 2,150afs... read more

KABUL CITY (PAN): The Afghanistan Tribal Solidarity Council, accusing the government of massive corruption, on Sunday called for a decentralised set-up.Mohammad Aman Khairi, the council head, told a gathering of hundreds of tribal representatives of... read more

KABUL (PAN): Hundreds of people staged a protest for the second day in Kabul against the burning of the Holy Quran by US troops at the Bagram Airbase, when one of the protesters shot injured by foreign troops during the Wednesday’s protest.The... read more

KABUL (PAN): The Meshrano Jirga on Tuesday decided to send a delegation to central Parwan province for investigating the alleged desecration of the Quran by US soldiers, a controversy that sparked angry protests.Senators, who strongly condemned the... read more

KABUL (PAN): Lawmaker Haji Abdul Zahir Qadir was elected as first deputy speaker of the Wolesi Jirga, lower house of Parliament, in the administrative board polls on Monday.Qadir, belonging to eastern Nangarhar province, won 140 votes, while his... read more

KABUL (PAN): The Afghan Civil Society Coordination Jirga (ACCJ) chief on Saturday said some individuals selected through a ballot process for participation in the second Bonn conference were not real civil society representatives.The 270-member ACCJ... read more

KABUL (PAN): Counternarcotics Minister Zarar Ahmad Muqbil said on Tuesday poppy cultivation would be reduced by 50 percent over the five years.Under a new policy, farmers would willingly stop growing the illicit crop, he told theMeshrano Jirga, or... read more

KABUL (PAN): Thirteen cases of polio have been detected in Afghanistan's three provinces, President Hamid Karzai has said. The disease has been eliminated from the rest of the country.In a biweekly radio address to the nation on Thursday night, the... read more

KABUL (PAN): Afghan officials are preparing for the transfer of security responsibility to Afghan security forces in Kabul, officials said Tuesday, but some analysts say that Afghan security forces should be better armed.
The first phase of the... read more

KABUL (PAN): At least 15 individuals were sentenced to three to 20 years of imprisonment and hard labor on charges of drug smuggling, officials said on Saturday.
The individuals were sentenced by the court of appeals of the Criminal Justice Task... read more

KABUL (PAN): Attorney General Mohammad Ishaq Alako said judicial officials are ready to ensure justice and the rule of law in the provinces where Afghans are slated to assume security responsibility soon.
Alako told a press conference also attended... read more

KABUL (PAN): The Deputy Interior Minister of Counter Narcotics said on Monday that over three million Afghans, based mostly in the provinces, are involved in manufacturing or trafficking drugs.
The deputy minister, Baz Mohammad Ahmadi, told a press... read more

KABUL (PAN): Two men were executed Monday for an attack on Jalalabad’s Kabul Bank that left 40 dead and 90 injured. The remains of lead attacker Zarajam will be handed to Pakistan's embassy in Kabul, the National Directorate of... read more

KABUL(PAN): At least two people were killed and a dozen others wounded when a double-storey house collapsed on the outskirts of Kabul city on Friday, police said.
The incident occurred in Qanbar area in the limits of fifth police district of Kabul... read more

KABUL(PAN): Police are capable to maintain security for central Kabul province and the capital, an official said on Saturday.
"Both in quantity and quality, the police in Kabul are in a position to maintain better security across the province... read more

KABUL(PAN): The Parliament on Tuesday once again failed to elect a speaker in the sixth round of voting, prolonging a parliamentary crisis in the country.
Of the six contesters, two went to a second round of voting, but they also were unable to... read more

KABUL (PAN): A survey shows 79 percent of Afghans had a favourable opinion of the police, a force only slightly more popular than the Taliban in the insurgent heartlands of the south, an official said on Sunday.
Published on Thursday, the results... read more

KABUL(PAN): As many as 466 people, including civilians, militants and police, have been killed in violence-related incidents last month, the Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday.
Another 307 people were wounded in January, the interior ministry... read more

KABUL (PAN): Three terrorist groups, involved in suicide attacks on the Kunduz governor and the Indian embassy and guesthouse in Kabul and several other incidents, have been arrested, the Afghan spy service said on Tuesday.
The groups, including... read more

KABUL (PAN): More than 1,200 workers of disbanded private security companies have so far joined the Afghan police force, an interior ministry official said on Monday.
The dissolution of private security firms had helped reduce the crime rate and... read more

KABUL(PAN): Afghan counternarcotics police are not capable enough to effectively fight against narcotics due to their less numbers and a lack of resources, an official said on Monday.
"Currently the number of counternarcotics police is 2,800... read more

KABUL(PAN): The process of transporting Afghan pilgrims back from Saudi Arabia has successfully been completed, an official of the Ministry of Hajj and Islamic Affairs said on Sunday.
"Officials concerned did their duty honestly towards... read more

KABUL(PAN): Despite the efforts of the Afghan government, Iran has been refusing to provide any information about the Afghan refugees, reported to be on death row in the neighbouring country, the justice minister said on Wednesday.
According to... read more

KABUL(PAN): The activities of political parties failing to renew their licences under the new law are considered illegal, the justice minister said on Wednesday.
In an interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, Habibullah Ghalib, said 34 out of 110... read more

KABUL (PAN): More than 200 people led by losing candidates on Tuesday staged a protest demonstration in front of the Supreme Court seeking a review of the final results from the September parliamentary election.
The protestors carried banners... read more

KANDAHAR CITY/ZARANJ (PAN): Seven Taliban fighters have been arrested by security forces during separate operations in Kandahar and Farah provinces, officials said on Saturday.
Five fighters were detained by police in relatively peaceful districts... read more

ISTANBUL (PAN): The Turkish president, Abdullah Gul, said joint military drills in April next year among Afghanistan, Turkey and Pakistan will help fighting terrorism in the region.
In a joint press conference with his Afghan and Pakistani... read more

ANKARA (PAN): President Hamid Karzai said on Thursday his government was working on action plans for improved security and accelerated economic development of his war-devastated country.
The plans were focused on security, economic development,... read more

KABUL (PAN): The Attorney General's Office (AGO) wants the September 18 parliamentary election results to be declared null and void, an official said on Saturday.
Final results from the vote were announced on November 24 after protests in... read more

KABUL (PAN): The Attorney General's Office (AGO) wants the September 18 parliamentary election results to be declared null and void, an official said on Saturday.
Final results from the vote were announced on November 24 after protests in... read more

KABUL (PAN): Losing parliamentary candidates, protesting irregularities in the Sept 18 election, Thursday asked the Attorney General's Office (AGO) for a judicial probe into fraud committed by the two main electoral bodies.
The demonstrators,... read more

KABUL (PAN): Hundreds of Afghan citizens and government officials greeted the national cricket team on landing at the Kabul International Airport on Tuesday.
KABUL (PAN): Hundreds of Afghan citizens and government officials greeted the national... read more

KABUL (PAN): Security guards of parliamentarian, Haji Muhammad Mohaqiq, beat up four policemen in Kabul, an official said on Sunday.
"Guards of Mohaqiq beat while traffic officials in the third police district of the capital late Saturday... read more

KABUL (PAN): Fourteen police officials were killed and scores injured last week in various incidents of violence across the country, an interior ministry official said on Sunday.
Roadside bomb explosions were to be blamed for increased casualties,... read more

KABUL (PAN): The Afghan Air Force needs more support from the international community, the defence ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.
Gen. Zahir Azimi said the agreements made at the NATO summit in Lisbon last week about equipping the air force... read more

KABUL (PAN): Contrary to the October 18 cabinet decision that appointments to government departments would be made on merit, two new assignments at the Ministry of Interior have been effected without any procedure being followed.
In a statement on... read more

KABUL (PAN): Six days ahead of Eidul Adha, a 50 percent increase has been noted in prices of sacrificial animals, compared to their last year's rates.
Eidul Adha, the second-largest religious festival of Muslims, is celebrated annually on the... read more

KABUL (PAN): The United States of America announced on Tuesday to provide the Ministry of Counter-Narcotics (MCN) with $25.7 million as an incentive for provinces where poppy cultivation has either become zero or substantially reduced.
An agreement... read more

KABUL (PAN): As a three-day seminar aimed at highlighting their problems got underway in Kabul on Tuesday, some of the disabled people said they were hopeless about their future.
Steps had been taken to create livelihood opportunities for the... read more

KABUL (PAN): A dozen Afghans have died of old age and heart diseases in Saudi Arabia, where they have gone to perform Hajj, the Ministry of Public Health in Kabul announced on Monday.
Most of the pilgrims who died were over 65 years of age, a... read more

KABUL (PAN): A team of Afghan bodybuilders left on Tuesday for India to take part in the Second World Men’s Bodybuilding Championship, an official said.
Four Afghan competitors, in different weight categories, would participate in the five-... read more

KABUL (PAN): Coordination between international and Afghan troops was “excellent”, a spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force, said, responding to complaints by Afghan government officials that the NATO-led force was... read more

KABUL (PAN): Four people have been arrested on the suspicion of killing a local journalist working for a state-run television, a security official said on Sunday.
Sayed Hamid Noori, who worked for the Radio Television of Afghanistan, was found dead... read more

KABUL(PAN): Deputy interior minister has been fired and replaced with Kabul police chief, the ministry said on Sunday.
The interior ministry recommended the removal of Lt. Gen. Munir Muhammad Mangal and his replacement with Kabul police chief,... read more

KABUL (PAN): An ongoing counterinsurgency operation in northern Takhar province would be extended to other provinces in the north, where insurgents have intensified their activities, officials said on Sunday.
In Kabul, interior ministry spokesman,... read more

KABUL(PAN): The counterterrorism department at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has issued arms licences to 23,000 eligible people for self-defence, an official said on Monday.
The licences were issued as the interior ministry had no sufficient... read more

KABUL (PAN): A large number of Kabul University students rallied on Monday against a senator for beating a professor, but the lawmaker rejected the allegation as baseless.
The protestors said Zalmai Zabuli, member of the Meshrano Jirga, or upper... read more

KABUL (PAN): Less than half of the 10,548 women needed to provide security and check female voters on Saturday, the day of the parliamentary election, have been selected, an interior ministry official said.Zmaray Bashari the interior ministry... read more

KABUL (PAN): The leader of Taliban movement, Mullah Muhammad Omar, in a message to mark Eid-ul-Fitr, on Thursday called on Taliban fighters not to hurt civilians."Don't think that civilians are separate from you and try to protect them and all their... read more

KABUL (PAN): As many as 12,000 women, including schoolteachers, will be on hand to check women going into polling stations on September 18, the day of the parliamentary election.Humaira, 35, a teacher at Ariana High School in Kabul city, is one of... read more

KABUL (PAN): President Hamid Karzai ordered on Monday an investigation into the death of deputy head of Afghan Journalists' Association, Sayed Hamid Noori.A former spokesman for the national television, Hamid Noori, 49, was found dead in the old... read more

KABUL (PAN): Three militants have been killed and 15 others arrested during separate operations by Afghan and coalition forces in different provinces, the Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday.The three were killed in a firefight with the joint... read more

KABUL (PAN): The number of people arrested on the charge of drug smuggling has registered a threefold increase during the past five months against the same period last year, an interior ministry official said on Monday.Nearly 8.5 tonnes of narcotics... read more

KABUL (PAN): The number of people arrested on the charge of drug smuggling has registered a threefold increase during the past five months against the same period last year, an interior ministry official said on Monday.Nearly 8.5 tonnes of narcotics... read more

KABUL (PAN): Interior and public health ministries will jointly investigate recent poisoning incidents in Kabul schools, officials said on Sunday.Last week two such incidents, affecting scores of students and teachers, took place in Totya Middle... read more

KABUL (PAN): As many as 917 people, including civilians, police and Taliban fighters, have been killed, and 801 wounded in 691 roadside bomb explosions and guerrilla attacks, the Ministry of Interior said on Sunday.The attacks and blasts, compared... read more

KABUL (PAN): Some private cable operators, campaigning for parliamentary candidates, are violating the procedure set by the Independent Election Commission (IEC), contenders said on Sunday.Under the procedure, each commercial should end with the... read more

KABUL (PAN): The son of a government minister kidnapped 10 days ago has been freed in Kabul and two suspects arrested, a police official said on Wednesday.Abdullah, a son of Refugees and Repatriation Minister Jamahir Anwari, was taken from his car... read more

KABUL (PAN): Taliban fighters fired rockets at the Shakardara district of Kabul overnight, but caused no casualties, official said on Wednesday.The attack happened Tuesday night when militants fired rockets and small arms at the district... read more

KABUL (PAN): Young men often join the Afghan National Army (ANA) to escape family disputes at home. This creates problems for their relatives and also adds to the insecurity in the country, people say."Twenty days had passed before I understood that... read more

KABUL (PAN): Religious scholars in this central capital have asked the Afghan government to ban lottery programmes initiated by private banks as the scheme is un-Islamic.The banks running the lottery programme include Kabul Bank with its 'Bakht... read more

KABUL (PAN): There are two dozen inmates at the Pul-i- Charkhi prison in Kabul with chronic illnesses or disorders. Under Afghanistans penal law, they should be treated in hospital or released.However, some have already spent up to four years in... read more

KABUL (PAN): Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Tuesday supported the channeling of 50 percent of foreign aid to the Afghan government.President Hamid Karzai in his opening remarks at the Kabul Conference had asked the international community... read more

KABUL (PAN): Forty foreign dignitaries, including foreign ministers of France, Poland and Spain, have arrived in Kabul to participate in Tuesday's international conference, an official said on Monday.Representatives of about 52 countries and 12... read more

KABUL (PAN): President Hamid Karzai will present his plan for the transition of control of security from international soldiers to Afghans at the Kabul International Conference on July 20, an official said on Wednesday.The issue of handing control... read more

KABUL (PAN): Nearly 80 per cent of civilian and military deaths are caused by roadside bombs, a deadly weapon largely used by the Taliban to target foreign and Afghan forces, the Ministry of Defence said on Monday.To tackle the problem, the US... read more

KABUL (PAN): Students of a religious school in central Kabul province on Tuesday staged a protest demonstration against foreign and Afghan forces for raiding their seminary and arresting three teachers.The demonstrators, who blocked Kabul-Logar... read more

KABUL (PAN): Afghan security forces have seized hundreds of kilos of ammonium nitrate fertiliser, widely used in Afghanistan to make homemade bombs, in a district of central Kabul province, an official said on Wednesday.The fertiliser packed in 200... read more

KABUL (PAN): Hamid Karzai on Wednesday yet again failed to meet a deadline imposed by the Wolesi Jirga, or lower house of parliament, to introduce his remaining cabinet picks.Lawmakers had set a Wednesday deadline for Karzai to send his remaining 11... read more

KABUL (PAN): Security arrangements for the Kabul Conference next month are already in place, security officials said on Monday.Around 13,000 police will be deployed to different parts of the city to maintain security for the July 20 conference and... read more

KABUL (PAN): Four groups of insurgents who planned to disrupt a three-day peace advisory jirga in Kabul were either killed or arrested, a senior official said on Sunday.Three rockets were fired at the traditional tent where the peace jirga was... read more

KABUL (PAN): Foreign troops are needed in Afghanistan and there should be no talk of them withdrawing until Afghan security forces are capable of protecting the country, experts said Friday.Militants have said they will not engage in any peace talks... read more

KABUL (PAN): Hundreds of university students protested in Kabul on Monday, demanding the government stop international groups from converting Muslims to Christianity and Judaism.The protest came as the Ministry of Economy said that two non-... read more

KABUL (PAN): Only the suicide attacker was killed in the bombing on the eastern outskirts of Kabul on Saturday, an official of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.MoD spokesman Gen. Zahir Azimi told Pajhwok Afghan News the attack was carried out in... read more

KABUL (PAN): Lahor Gul has spent the past 18 months at a detention facility at Bagram Air Base, the largest US prison in Afghanistan. Now, his case is being heard by a US military panel which will determine if he should be released or held longer.... read more

KABUL (PAN): Afghanistan beat the Turkish Provincial Reconstruction Team during a friendly football match in the capital Kabul on Wednesday.During the first half of the match, neither side scored a goal, but in the final 30 minutes, there were two... read more

KABUL (PAN): Afghan soldiers have been sent to central Maidan Wardak province to stop the fighting between Hazara and Kuchi tribes, the interior minister said on Tuesday.A team to assess fatalities was also dispatched to the area, Muhammad Hanif... read more

KABUL (PAN): More than 200 people were killed last week in 140 security incidents across Afghanistan, a 14 percent drop from the week before, an official said on Sunday.The 209 dead included 29 civilians, 161 militants and 19 police. Another 155... read more